Statement of Principles

The Internet should be free of charge.
- The Internet is a resource that connects people with things found outside the scope of their everyday lives and should thus be free to use. It allows horizons to be expanded and for people to learn things they might not otherwise learn. I believe it is very important for people to have exposure to things they would not normally encounter on a daily basis. With a tool such as the Internet that allows this expansion, it is difficult to agree that a charge should be put in place that would likely limit people’s access. The Internet’s popularity will dwindle if charges are put in place for its use, and thus people will go back into the same shells they were in before the time of the World Wide Web.

Creative work posted on the Internet should be under the same copyright umbrella as traditionally published creative materials and enforced fully.
- It is unfair to think that the Internet provides a forum for taking from artists of all genres without paying them for their efforts. Music, literature, and other creations are not free for anyone to use at their own discretion. There is very little difference between works posted electronically and those physically printed on paper. I think it is morally wrong to steal just because there is a lesser chance that you will get caught. It is unlikely that someone would want their work stolen from them, so they should practice empathy and show a willingness to pay for anything they would like to own the rights to use.

Hate speech on the Internet should be eliminated
- Hate speech is wrong regardless of the forum, and should definitely not be allowed in a public setting such as the Internet. It is hurtful to those whom it is directed towards emotionally and psychologically. I do not tolerate the use of such language spoken verbally or physically or electronically written. The human race shouldn’t use such language to begin with, but it should certainly be eliminated from the Internet, which is used as an everyday tool in today’s world. Any language that is classified as “hate speech” should not be allowed to be posted in any capacity on the Internet. I doubt that anyone likes to hear hate speech directed at them, so I could not understand why they would not support this decision.

Children under the age of 18 should not be allowed to create a social networking account
- Children under the age of 18 have no reason to be networking socially via the Internet. They go to school each day and are provided opportunities extending even beyond that for social interaction with other age-appropriate children. I don’t think kids need to use the Internet to interact with others, and it could potentially take away from their ability to personally socialize with other children. Previous generations have turned out relatively well without the help of the Internet so it should be easy to believe that current and future generations could do the same. With many parents knowing so little about the Internet and its lack of limitations, it is just better to prohibit minors from using social networking sites.

Rules and regulations should be in place to prevent minors under the age of 18 from viewing things that are not age-appropriate
- Just about anything can be found on the Internet and it currently places no restrictions on who can look at what. I think that while the Internet should remain free, accounts should be made for each user so that the websites they view can better be regulated. Minors cannot be held responsible for always knowing what is best for them, and thus it would be good to have a universal regulation to prohibit them from seeing things, such as porn, before they can legally make such a decision. They are not given the right to vote, drink, or drive (in some cases), so why should we give them full permission to see anything they like via the Internet?

Businesses/companies should not access potential or current employees’ blogs and/or social networking page
- The philosophy about not mixing business and pleasure should be taken seriously by both parts of the equation. How people choose to represent themselves or what they choose to share is independent of how they act at work and so there should be no reason to mix the two. I personally like to keep my life away from work private and I don’t think employers should go snooping around to find out personal information. I understand that reputation is important, but unless it affects the way an employee performs at his or her job, it should not be of interest to the employer. I think it is hypocritical to a point as well because it is almost certain that our employers weren’t angels when they were our age just because there isn’t digital evidence.

Sites that allow users to find the location and personal information of others without their consent should be eliminated
- It is scary to think that addresses, phone numbers, and other forms of personal information are available to anyone via the Internet. With the ability to look up information without that person knowing, it opens up a potential can of worms that can lead to numerous problems. I do not like the idea of someone I do not know looking up my phone number for any reason. Additionally, my address is something that should be private unless I willingly give it out. The problem goes both ways: even if you like looking up other people’s information then you should be willing to let them look at yours. No one really needs that kind of information without consent anyway unless his or her intent is malicious.

All forum and chat room-based websites must require users to provide valid registration information and cross check information provided
- Websites of this sort are often based on anonymity but that doesn’t mean that fake information should be provided or allowed when signing up. With the ability to provide false information, people could sign up without worrying about consequences for their actions. I personally don’t always trust the Internet, but that is in part because I don’t trust the people who are on it. I fear that my truthful information could be used against me, and in turn I am often hesitant to join any sort of site that requires more than just a valid email. I do believe, however, that if this were standardized then we would be in a better position to have more honest use of the Internet. I wouldn’t want to share information with someone that was lying to me, so why would someone that was lying expect my information to be valid?

The Internet should be easy to use, specifically areas requiring the adjustment of privacy settings, account information, and company guidelines
- The Internet is a vast space and it can be very confusing to use at times, especially in the areas that allow you to personalize it. With so many people that know the Internet much better than I do, I worry that my information may be stolen or used against me because I didn’t secure something properly. Rather than intimidating its users, it should offer different levels of assistance to assure that each user is wholly protected. Additionally, policies regarding the Internet should be clear and concise. It is difficult to expect others to know how to use it when those that know how to use it are not willing to assist where necessary.

The Internet should not be owned or controlled by any one person or organization
- The Internet is a free space and having one group control it would be a bad idea. That would open up the gates for censorship of ideas and thoughts that were previously permitted. It is much better as a democratic forum where anyone can aid in controlling the content. Not everyone is going to always agree, but it is certain that a single person or organization cannot make the decisions for everyone. Yes, I think there should be regulations regarding content, but I would not like for one group to be in total control. As previewed by books such as 1984 and shown by history, a single group in control of anything can lead to huge problems and the loss of many freedoms thought to be rights.

The Internet should allow people a free means of communication with others without huge regulations from outside parties
- The Internet gives access to people from every corner of the world and that should remain an integral part of the tool. People should be allowed to chat, email, or blog without worrying about constraints from outside parties getting in the way. There is, again, a need for certain regulations, but for the most part, people should be able to communicate with one another without problem. I enjoy the freedom I have with my Instant Messages and personal email account, and I would be greatly upset to have those taken away or heavily regulated. Empathy is once again called in to help others understand. It would be unfair to have ones emails censored so why should they be allowed to edit anyone else’s?

Society should not become one with the computer
- We often get caught up in the latest on YouTube or Facebook and forget to just be human. There was a time when we could interact face to face rather than through anything virtual. I personally try to refrain from using my computer when I can, and I realize that it is a luxury in most cases rather than a necessity. The younger generations, however, should be wary of becoming too reliant upon their computers. The pace at which society has become comfortable with using computers is alarmingly quick, and we should heed that as a warning as to what could potentially happen. As our bodies try to adapt to using them, physical ailments become problematic, as well as the mental idea that not checking email for one day is the end of the world. No one likes to be completely tied down, but it would seem the trend is leading towards our inability to function without our computers.